The NSW premier has ordered globally famous brands such as the Sydney Opera House put a flower on their logo

If you squint a little, you could almost mistake the NSW government logo, which features a stylised red waratah — the state flower — as the Sydney Opera House.

But unless the world-heritage listed venue can convince NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian that they deserve to keep their existing branding unsullied, then the famous logo, which looks like this:

Will also be forced to carry this logo:

Government-owned organisations were told last month by Berejiklian that the waratah logo will be “the only brand identity” they allowed to use in order to “improve the recognition of NSW government projects”.

That means everything from government departments, statutory authorities, cultural organisations and even universities must comply with the mandatory directive, which says the waratah must feature “prominently” on all communications, signage and advertising.

Fairfax Media reports that the Opera House, Taronga Zoo, Sydney Olympic Park, the Art Gallery of NSW, the Australian Museum and Barangaroo, which all have their own distinctive branding, are among the organisations caught up in the directive and are now seeking exemptions.

Taronga Zoo features the NSW animal emblem, the platypus, on its branding.

But the order says the waratah should be the only logo, or if it has to share billing with an organisation’s branding “must be the more dominant mark”.

Fairfax Media says only sub-committee of cabinet has the power to grant exemptions.